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Bureaucrats are watching the state government's moves keenly as the race
for appointment to the post of chief secretary is beginning to hot up with
incumbent Anish Majumdar's term ending on December 31. An impression has
grown among the bureaucracy that competence and seniority alone are not
enough to get the top post.
Being "acceptable" to the political establishment matters much more and
criteria for determining acceptability include "honesty, compatibility and
commitment" to the CPM-led Left Front (LF) government's cause, the
bureaucrats claim.
Officials considered "hostile" to the CPM, those who have been critical of
the LF or have demonstrated less than "total loyalty to the cause" fail to
get the top job, they add. When former chief secretary N Krishnamurthi was
selected, he had superseded seven others, some of whom were clearly eager
to get to the top but failed to meet the compatibility and loyalty tests,
they point out.
Union steel secretary Ashoke Bose and land reforms commissioner R N De are
among the leading contenders for the post now, though the names of a couple
of other officials are also being mentioned in this connection.
Regarding the growing disenchantment towards the LF government, a senior
bureaucrat said: "I sometimes wonder if we are any better than our fellow
officers in Bihar and UP where caste and personal loyalty appear to be
determining factors in who gets what job."
What has led to the disillusionment in the bureaucracy is the perceived gap
between "ideology and practice." A bureaucrat said: "The government's
achievements can be summed up as a successful land registration programme
and the panchayat system." However, the hurdles in the way of the
industrial regeneration programme show no signs of decreasing, he added.
Asked to elaborate, he said: "Potential investors are not judged by their
financial and managerial capabilities, but on how they woo the establishment."
Industrialists prefer to be more diplomatic and cautious, but end up saying
almost the same thing. "Clearances and paperwork get done on the basis of
political intervention," an industrialist said.
Another industrialist was candid: "For the first 18 months after the
announcement of the new industrial policy, it was speculation in land that
created the impression of industrial revival. Now that the euphoria is
over, the real test is beginning."
Bureaucrats say they are wary of the political establishment where
sectarian interests predominate. There have been some major rows between
bureaucrats and their ministers over such interests.
Officials say they are demoralised and frustrated, insisting that there is
"very little work to do." Accusing the government of failing to take any
policy initiatives, one of them said it was unwilling to take risks.
"What is good for the party is good for the, state," he said. Selecting
two issues, he explained that hawkers were evicted from the streets of
Calcutta because the CPM gained nothing in terms of votes from this section
while it alienated the middle class. Political affiliations, he insisted,
were important in the selection of teachers in schools, colleges and
universities, rather than competence, because teachers wielded enormous
influence which could benefit the party.
Recommendations and patronage from the "right people" are needed to move
the government machinery. An official said: "A successful officer is one
who understands what the minister wants and for whom and does it."
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